US News Article

Lou Allen, founder of Science and Technology Magnet High School of Southeastern Connecticut, established lottery-based admissions at the school. (COURTESY KATHLEEN LUCADAMO)

NEW LONDON, Conn.—When Lou Allen started the Science and Technology Magnet High School of Southeastern Connecticut in 2005, he didn't woo the state's top students. Instead, in accordance with state law, admission was based on a lottery. Allen's goal was to recruit more low-income Hispanic and black students, who for too long were blocked out of schools exclusively for math and science because their grades fell short of perfection. "It's all strictly luck," says Allen of New London's admissions policy. "We take whoever we get and we pride ourselves on that."